According to the Manchester Evening News, De Ligt is nearing full recovery, and his return will be a huge boost for Carrick.

Manchester United defender De Ligt is close to full fitness after undergoing back surgery.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News, De Ligt has participated in a closed-door Manchester United friendly and is close to rejoining the squad.

It is believed that De Ligt played in Manchester United's closed-door friendly against Lausanne Sport on Friday afternoon.

Most of Manchester United's first-team players were on international duty, so the team fielded a very young lineup, but the club's official website confirmed that Baleba, Maguire, and Cunha all played.

The official website did not mention De Ligt, nor were there any photos of him in the carefully curated gallery. Given that De Ligt is in the final stages of recovery, it is not surprising that Manchester United does not want to create unrealistic expectations among fans.

De Ligt last played for Manchester United on November 30 against Crystal Palace, meaning he has not played in an official match for 307 days.

The sequence of events is now clear. Amorim initially stated that De Ligt would only miss one game due to back discomfort, but he subsequently missed the remainder of that season. Eventually, Manchester United decided in May to end conservative treatment and have him undergo surgery to resolve the issue.

When a player is out for an extended period, Manchester United is usually reluctant to give a definite return timetable, as players need to return gradually, and announcing a time would only create unnecessary pressure.

The club has always adhered to the principle of "take as long as needed," so De Ligt and other players who have been out long-term will not be rushed back to the field.

Manchester United hopes De Ligt will be fully recovered before returning to official matches. The good news is that the Dutch defender is almost ready to be named in the squad for the first time since the Crystal Palace match.

There were previous indications that De Ligt might return to the bench before the international break. Before the international break, he traveled with the team to London for Manchester United's match against Fulham but ultimately was not included in the squad.

Manchester United decided to have De Ligt travel with the team to reintegrate with the squad, but not to be on the bench at Craven Cottage. Nevertheless, traveling with the team itself was proof that he was close to returning.

The friendly against Lausanne Sport on Friday afternoon was the final stage of De Ligt's recovery process. This match allowed him to regain his match rhythm and served as a crucial test to confirm whether the centre-back was no longer experiencing pain.

The results of the test will be revealed on October 10 when Manchester United faces Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, and Carrick may also provide an update in his pre-match press conference.

Even if De Ligt passes his physical assessment after the international break and is named on the bench against Tottenham Hotspur, it will still take him several weeks to regain match fitness.

With the main centre-back pairing of Maguire and Lisandro Martinez both available, and Carrick also having Yoro and Evan as backups, there is no need to put immediate pressure on De Ligt.

Once De Ligt returns, Manchester United will take it one step at a time with him. However, after missing so many games, he is surely eager to contribute to the team.

For Carrick, being able to select De Ligt again will be a huge boost. Manchester United's defensive options still have some question marks, and it is easy to forget that De Ligt was one of Manchester United's best performers before his injury.

After the start of last season, he performed exceptionally well defensively and helped the team secure a point with a goal against Tottenham Hotspur before the November international break. At that time, he was also the only Manchester United player to play every minute in the league.

De Ligt's performances also earned him a recall to the Netherlands squad. He stated: "I am 26 now, and I believe I am entering the best years of my career, both physically and mentally. I have changed my mindset. Initially, I did not want to make mistakes; now I want to do as many things right as possible."

Amorim did not include De Ligt in the six-man leadership group, but he consistently led by example with his performances and proactively spoke to reporters after several poor results.

After Manchester United's 1-3 away loss to Brentford, Amorim suffered an embarrassing defeat, and the team's mood was low. Security personnel responsible for escorting players from the dressing room to the team bus said: "Absolutely no one will stop for interviews."

Typically, Manchester United players are reluctant to give interviews in the mixed zone after a loss. The security guard's prediction was about to come true, but De Ligt eventually agreed to stop and say a few words.

De Ligt reiterated that players must take responsibility for their performance and reduce individual errors. Another staff member, as he walked onto the bus, spoke of the centre-back: "He is doing great right now." Manchester United needs De Ligt to rediscover this form upon his return.

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